New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-06
GREAT DAYS FOR SPORTSItEN.

|
WOODS AND WATERS TEEMING WITH GAME.
| HARRISBURG, PENN Dec. 2-Reports from various
localities in this part Of Pennsylvania Indicate that
tho past month most extraordinary one Tor
the killing oil wild ducks geese turkeys and swan,
rabbits and other small game by sportsmcn in those
localities. In day at Columbia. Lancaster
County, $500 ducks-canvas-bacIs. rdheads. NAL
lards. back ducks "bnter balls" bIucb and other
choice varictles-werc killed the dam The Old
Pennsylvania Canal runs the Lancaster County
side of the Susquehanna River at Columbia, and con
necon with the Ttdewater Canal at the York County
side ia made for boats by towing them across the
river to Wnghtsvlc. q dam mile below Columbia
keeping the water sufficient depth for that pur-
pose. The dammlng Of the river forms artificial
lake milo I'm length and width 1t Is Il largest
body Of water along the Susquehanna above Chesa
peako Bay, and as the myriads Of wild ducks pass
southwark In tho fall Of the year. Columbia dam Is
favOriie resting place for them on the way. They
also frequently driven back from the bays anh
nlets Of the Atlantic by heavy storms, and on
those occasions the dam Ia covered with focks Of
apparently dazed and demoralized water fowl Every
day during the ducklng Columbia dam is visited
by Wild ducks greater less number, and It ~
always profitable place for duck hunters to resort
TO, but never in the history Of the river was the dam
black with fowl what Il now called the big
day" OF November. At day break tho birds began to
drop the in large fooks, coming from the
North. showing that they had been on the wing dur
ng part of the night least In spite Of the pres
cnce Of Of hunters who rapidly FASTENED to
ucir boats and op ned incessaat fire on them,
hey continued to flock and return to tho dam until
lato In tho afternoon. Besides the gum, rs In tho
boats both banks OF the river wcro lined with men
aud boys with guns, and for ten hours the ceaseess
bombardment was kept up Two days before there
had been oagged on the dam 25O ducs, an unusually
heavy days killing but the big day" the lowest
estimate placed on the number killed. Is $780, while
some hunters VINO participated In tho days sport
place the number at 5000 Columbia and Lancaster
markets overstOcked next morning with wild
ducks, and choice canvss backs sold thirty
and forty cents pair, while rrahcd.s went begging
at twenty i've cents and the Iess Jpular varieties
We sold a. low cents. 4cn and boys with
back loads Of ducks bosn.d every tran and sought
hc smaller towns and pedc.ed the Jrs the streets
Tor two Or three days bachs were as com
Mon and cheap a. por- la the favored localities.
Tue vctl.ty vi bedford was ia, saed one day ~
enormous hoc~s MT only Of Wild ducas. but Wild
geese AID Wild swans are still numerous
along the JnIAata River and its branches and the
STREAMS OF the Ao SHAN IS generally. OF Wild ducks
L"io than LOCO were brought Into bedford in ole
day, ali killed within mile If tie place. one flock
vi swans h-w .ntO dlOrd night aAd persisted In
Arcpus wEall the borough !iua,,. aha, l-b they
",t- chased iOr two hour, pla.c pace in tho
N.Iaec - snan aiIAs Oi H.. boys, The Big
i"' "c" over The houottop, were iOcated by heir
"a y huulacr Wc.e AI4,d t.., HOOK. In.,
Weed nom twenty ~ uuy pounds each
CA lho bius |IOunta.n-, ucsi Itne Gtiyc. SChdylkI
county hltA 81 MY 0..G TURKEY were starred rom
- -, 49,, 49," "'''''e ~.'''7 .'io io@'' iho
LIe" Oh toi"-S- a.d succeeded ia ia eng IhIc
o."' Id % AS Wee flushed nun,crs LAY t.at
"id tut cys have nJt Lc-. Icuty tAIty years
Is ehoy "or5 'Ls Ia. on te blue Mountain. lac same
.'i"''s receive uo"l iLo 4r.iy. -.Ain "ad Hun